Bully King - J.A. Huss Page 0,24

envelope for a moment, but then step forward and take it. “Thank you.”

“Do you want to stay?”

“Not here,” I say too quickly. “But. Yes. The garden cottage.” I smile. I can’t help myself. “I grew up there.”

He smiles back. “I know. I’m sorry you ever had to leave. It was Cooper’s idea.”

“What?”

“Yes. He talked me into it. He wanted it for the lacrosse team that year.”

I seethe inside. He’s the reason we had to move. He stole my home from me. Just one more reason to hate that asshole.

“So you’ll stay? In the cottage?”

I nod before I even realize I’m doing it. “Yes. I would love to stay. And I’ll take the job. And the scholarship.”

“The two are conditional. I’m afraid that’s the best I could do with the board on short notice. We reserve that job and scholarship for a needy Prep student. It was Lacy Pendleton’s up until a week ago. Don’t worry about her though. I’m sure her student loans will cover most of her tuition.”

“Oh. Wow. Um—”

“It’s fine. She completely understands.”

R-iiii-ght. Note to self. Stay the hell away from Lacy Pendleton. She’s gonna have it out for me next year pret-ty bad.

“Well, if that’s your decision then my work here is done.” He pulls a key out of his pocket and hands it to me. “For the cottage. It’s partly furnished. But the severance packet”—he nods his head to the envelope in my hand—“should more than cover whatever you need to make it feel like home again.”

I sigh. “Chairman Valcourt. I don’t know how to thank you. For real. You’ve touched me with this gesture. And I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”

He smiles. “It was my pleasure. Please change into a dress and come for dinner. We eat at six. Dane and Jack won’t be there, they’re both busy at home getting ready for the summer trip. But Cooper will.” He adds this like he’s afraid I might think he was asking me on a date.

Gross. This is the first thing he’s offered today that makes me want to say no immediately.

But it would be rude. And I can get through one hour of dinner if it means I can leave and go home to my cottage tonight. “Yes. Of course, I’ll stay for dinner.”

CHAPTER NINE - COOPER

Isabella Huntington has her hands all over me on the dock in front of Lars’ house. She and her Swans showed up to talk some business about the start of rush tomorrow and she’s always been a hands-y girl. Not that I mind. Isabella is a girl I truly like.

We don’t hang out much, but I always know if I need her to do something—anything—she’ll be there. And parts of her are very easy. She tries hard, she’s smart, beautiful, and even though most people think she’s a bitch, I kind of like that about her.

Gives her depth.

But I’m stuck having dinner with my father tonight and he’s already informed me that Cadee will be there too. Dane and Jack have other plans, thank God for small favors. So that’s helpful.

But he said he wanted Isabella to join us. Which can only mean one thing. Summer rush is actually a grooming exercise for Isabella and me. She will be the Cygnet and I will be the King next year.

I don’t tell her that though. I’m sure she understands this—on some level. But she’s not the kind of girl who likes to face reality. And that’s fine. There’s no need to think about the future—yet.

But I am kinda happy that Isabella will be my ‘date’ for dinner. Isabella and I are a team. And that means Cadee will still be an ‘outsider’, even though she somehow weaseled her way inside my house.

This makes me grin as we walk back to my house and enter the French doors that lead to the great room and family kitchen. The staff uses the catering kitchen on the lower level for food prep, so there’s no one in here with us when I lead her across the room and into the hallway towards the formal dining room on the other side of the house.

“You’re late,” my father barks as we enter. But then he notices Isabella and forces a smile. “Why, hello, Miss Huntington. How delightful to see you again.”

“Hello, Chairman,” she quips, tossing her long, blonde hair and shaking her hips a little. My father admires the display, then gets to his feet and walks over to her. He